• Bikes for Sale
  • News
  • Buyer’s guide
    • Buy a Motorcycle
    • First Rides & Reviews
    • Specs, Prices & Others
  • Lifestyle
    • Concepts & Custom
    • Electric Motorcycles
    • Events
    • Motorsport
    • Tips & Stories
    • Travel
  • Locals
imotorbike logo
  • Bikes for Sale
  • News
  • Buyer’s guide
    • Buy a Motorcycle
    • First Rides & Reviews
    • Specs, Prices & Others
  • Lifestyle
    • Concepts & Custom
    • Electric Motorcycles
    • Events
    • Motorsport
    • Tips & Stories
    • Travel
  • Locals
  • Facebook

  • Instagram

  • X (Twitter)

  • YouTube

  • LinkedIn

  • RSS

Motorsport

Indian Motorcycle to go hill-climbing with John Koester

Indian Motorcycle to go hill-climbing with John Koester
Michelle Liew
August 28, 2020

Ready for the fruits of Indian Motorcycle and John Koester’s partnership?

Indian Motorcycle

Indian Motorcycle enters new AMA hill climb twin class with John Koester | Photo credits: Cycle World

Just recently, Indian Motorcycle made an announcement that it will be supporting hill climb racer on a modified FTR750 in an all-new AMA twins class. This would be the first time the company is making its official entrance to the sport since 1939.

The twins class of the American Flat Track has mainly been dominated by Harley-Davidson for decades. Much likely a predictable race, Indian is here to spice things up to provide some challenge to Harley. In 2016, fans showed up to watch some real competition with Indian’s inclusion. The larger crowds have paved way to the new locations for the flat track races and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is eager to do the same for hill climbing.

Photo credits: Cycle World

AMA’s representatives have reached out to Indian’s racing department and made the offer. At first, the company was a little weary but the deal was sealed when AMA paired Indian up with five-time national champion John”Flying” Koester. Currently 26 years old, Koester has been a professional hill climber with spectacular results within a decade.

According to the new rules in the twin class, the bikes are to run a knobby tire. This is as opposed to a paddle-stye tire often seen in hill climbing. “They were pushing us toward the FTR 1200. But with having only a knobby tire, it’s similar to flat track. At some point you just overpower the tire,” says Gary Gray, Indian Motorcycle’s vice president of Racing, Technology, and Service, as quoted from Cycle World.

Indian made the decision to go with the light-weight FTR750 but it would need lots of modification in both chassis and engine to go hill-climbing.

Photo credits: Cycle World

“We made some mods to the heads, pistons, and cylinders just to make some more horsepower than we do in flat track. We worked with Rekluse on locking up the clutch. This is because there definitely will be more traction with that knobby tire and long swingarm. And then S&S on the exhaust and tuning.”

The chassis was up to Koester and his dad, Gordy. The two worked on the suspension setup and tuned it into a motocross bike. The Koesters then installed a new motocross seat, a custom rear subframe and dirt bike plastic. John fabricated the swingarm and adapted it to work on the FTR750. The bike weights 310 pounds and the estimated output of the bike is at 94hp. “It has a really broad power range, which was proven in flat track. It comes out of corners hard, it goes down the straightaway fast—which is really what you need in hill climb,” says Koester.

Photo credits: Cycle World

Related Itemsamaama twin classfeaturedhill climbindianindian motorcyclejohn koesternewnewstwin class
To read the full story
login with google
login with facebook
or
Create an account for free
This won't cost you.
by clicking this button you agree to iMotorbike's visitor agreement
Already have an account? Sign in here
Click here to get notified on every new article
Motorsport
August 28, 2020
Michelle Liew

An avid fan of motorsports bringing you top-notch content from the two-wheeler world! Gear up for the latest updates and news with top speed delivery

Related Itemsamaama twin classfeaturedhill climbindianindian motorcyclejohn koesternewnewstwin class

More in Motorsport

Why You’ll Never See a BMW in MotoGP (At Least for Now)

Amzar HazeeqOctober 10, 2025
Read More

How Does MotoGP Qualifying Work? Understanding the System That Decides the Grid

Amzar HazeeqOctober 10, 2025
Read More

MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3: Understanding the Engine Capacity Behind Each Class

Amzar HazeeqOctober 10, 2025
Read More

MotoGP Teams Up with Fox Sports for Global Expansion

Michelle LiewOctober 9, 2025
Read More
Malaysia GP

MotoGP Confirms Full Pre-Season Schedule Ahead of 2026 Season Launch

Hazique ZairillOctober 9, 2025
Read More

Rabat and Lopes Geared Up for the Penultimate WorldSBK Round at Estoril

Amzar HazeeqOctober 8, 2025
Read More

PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Gears Up for Estoril with SSP Riders Toba and Norrodin

Amzar HazeeqOctober 8, 2025
Read More

Gardner and Aegerter Ready to End the WorldSBK Season on a High at Estoril

Amzar HazeeqOctober 8, 2025
Read More

Ryo Mizuno Joins JDT Racing Team as Wildcard for ARRC Sepang Round

Hazique ZairillOctober 8, 2025
Read More

Lawrence Brothers Lead Australia to MXoN Win

Michelle LiewOctober 7, 2025
Read More

Ducati Clinches Teams’ Title at Mandalika, Secures Third Triple Crown

Amzar HazeeqOctober 7, 2025
Read More

Marc Márquez to Miss MotoGP Rounds in Australia and Malaysia

Amzar HazeeqOctober 7, 2025
Read More
We want to buy your bike Join us on Telegram
Scroll for more
Tap

Join us on Facebook

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Yamaha Unveils V4-Powered YZR-M1, Set for San Marino GP Wild-Card Debut
    MotoGPSeptember 12, 2025
  • Modenas Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Launch of Elit 150S Scooter
    Buyer's guideSeptember 14, 2025
  • Nakagami to Return as Wildcard Rider at Japanese Grand Prix
    MotoGPSeptember 12, 2025
  • Riding with the AKASO 360: Affordable 360 Cam Tested
    Buyer's guideSeptember 15, 2025
  • Bezzecchi Triumphs as Marquez Crashes Out in Misano Sprint
    MotoGPSeptember 14, 2025
  • Honda Sweeps St. Louis SMX to Lead Both Title Fights
    MotorsportSeptember 16, 2025
  • Honda E-Clutch Review: 2025 CB650R and CBR650R Put to the Test
    Buyer's guideSeptember 17, 2025
  • AFAZ to Launch Suzuki-Based 115cc Motorcycle by End of October
    Buyer's guideOctober 10, 2025
  • Why You’ll Never See a BMW in MotoGP (At Least for Now)
    LifestyleOctober 10, 2025
  • How Does MotoGP Qualifying Work? Understanding the System That Decides the Grid
    EventsOctober 10, 2025
  • MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3: Understanding the Engine Capacity Behind Each Class
    EventsOctober 10, 2025
  • UK Motorcycle Sales Rebound in September
    NewsOctober 9, 2025
  • YADEA Establishes Thailand as ASEAN EV Hub
    NewsOctober 9, 2025
  • MotoGP Teams Up with Fox Sports for Global Expansion
    MotorsportOctober 9, 2025
  • MV Agusta Lucky Explorer Project 9.5: testing the Schiranna prototype - news.iNthacity: More Top Breaking News and Popular Stories To Stay Informed says:

    […] Michelle Liew […]

  • CFMOTO 450SR to enter Malaysia in March 2023 at RM29,300 - news.iNthacity: More Top Breaking News and Popular Stories To Stay Informed says:

    […] Michelle Liew […]

  • Suzuki V-Strom now available in Malaysia at RM81,900 - news.iNthacity: More Top Breaking News and Popular Stories To Stay Informed says:

    […] Michelle Liew […]

  • Colin says:

    I hope they make the Dax street legal. Love to…

  • Mohd Razi bin Rosli says:

    Adv 150cc

  • Nena Maxberry says:

    Just curious what they would retail for

  • Adam Kenny says:

    RM4159 for the front fork is it?

Categories

  • Buyer's guide
    • First Rides & Reviews
    • Specs, Prices & Others
  • cafe racer malaysia murah
  • Campaign
  • CSR Programme
  • Electric Motorcycles
  • Electric Motorcycles
  • Industry
  • Industry
  • Kedai Motor
  • Lifestyle
    • Concepts & Custom
    • Electric Motorcycles
    • Events
      • EICMa
    • Helmet
    • Motorsport
      • ARRC
      • CubPrix
      • EWC
      • Moto3
      • Motocross
      • MSBK
      • WSBK
    • Tips & Stories
    • Travel
  • Moto2
  • Motor Murah
  • News
    • Locals
    • MotoGP
    • Scoop
  • Review
  • Scoop
  • Scoop
  • SEO
  • Suzuka 8 Hours
  • Tips & Tricks

Corporate

About Us
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Disclosure Policy
Contact Us
SUBSCRIBE NOW!

2024 iMotorbike World Sdn. Bhd.(1205246-M). All rights reserved.

Money Talks : 2020 MotoGP riders and their salaries
iM Cubaholic Ep.17: Deus turns Honda X-ADV into a 745cc Cub EZ 90
Nak Jual Beli Motor 😊 ?
WhatsApp
Hi iMotorbike 😊
Open chat